Welcome to one of the coolest ministries that take place at The Crossing Church! The media department is responsible for everything you see, hear, and read at The Crossing Church, including the following:
- Printed Media (Bulletins, Mailers, Cards, etc..)
- Video Media (Bumper Videos, Testimony Videos, etc..)
- Web Media (Website, Archive Content, YouTube Content, Podcasts)
- Rich Media (Flash Animation/Technology)
- Audio Media (Front of House & Web Broadcast)
- Information Technology
Have you often asked yourself why do we spend so much time producing and
presenting media in church? Why do we spend hours creating graphics,
producing the silly announcements and spending hours creating media for the messages? Didn’t the church go for over 1900 years
without notes, websites, computers, and digital video? The short answer is yes, it has
thrived just fine, but after much thought and meditation, could you
imagine Paul’s impact on his churches if he could have e-mailed them?
How many letters to the Corinithians would we have now? With today’s
technology, we’d have an online archive of everything Paul and Jesus
said to refer to. Think about the miracle it really is that we have
such an accurate documentation as it is.
So back to the original question…why media? Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect
will.” Christians tend to miss a huge opportunity with transforming the
minds of others. We’re really good at transforming our own minds and
growing in our walk, but it’s the Acts 1:8 exhortation that we will be
his examples to the Earth. Media is the single greatest tool God has
ever granted man to fulfill the Great Commission. In the disciple’s
day, it took days or weeks to reach various church plants. Even 50
years ago it took a long time to communicate with missionaries. Now we
can instantly find out their needs and even send them supplementary
materials. Even greater than this is the fact that anyone around the
world can experience our messages and events via podcasts and the
videos on our website.
Matthew 5:16 and 1 Peter 2:12 we
are exhorted to be examples for the world. Media in the Church should
not just be a flashy thing to impress people, it should be a light for
the world. The world is so used to media from television, radio,
billboards, conventions, rock concerts, etc that they expect it in all
stage based gatherings. Excellent media should be intended to meet
this base expectation so that they can focus on the preaching and
worship. The second purpose is to be a source of light for the world. I love what Hillsong in Australia has done. They produce videos,
concerts and materials that are equal or better than things the world
produces. This makes them a standard that the world can respect and
look to. They spend the time and money required to look better than
the world. The effect is not to be “cool” but to attract the world to
the real purpose of their church: Worship and Christ.
Thank you for visiting our section of the site. Please make sure you check out our
YouTube channel for cool videos that you won't see in the service or on our regular site! Make sure you also check out my blog below!
In Him,
Alexander Hood
Director of Media & Technology
twitter.com/alexhood
ahood@crossingonline.org